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Positive impact begins long before the first Shirt sells. Learn more about the company producing Notre Dame’s favorite tradition!

The 2017 Shirt is being produced by the one of the largest collegiate apparel companies in the U.S., Colosseum Athletics. Along with a strong reputation for quality and value, Colosseum is also a leader in social responsibility and ethical practice! As we reflect on the impact and importance of the charitable aspect of The Shirt Project-and anxiously await the big color and design reveal-let’s take a moment to look at the positive impact Colosseum is making behind the scenes, in the factory where The Shirt is being produced.

The Cotton Shop in Vietnam

Empowering women, improving health: Colosseum has partnered with local Vietnamese NGO LIFE Centre to implement a health education project in their factory based on the HERproject initiative. Their efforts to educate and improve the lives of low-income women in supply chains have included education programs in pre- and post- natal care, breast cancer prevention and detection, nutrition, and more. The two year program continues with the help of a specialized health team, and is changing the lives of women in supply chains!

Fostering communication: Colosseum has partnered with Better Work Vietnam and provided a workshop at the factory to improve communication between union workers and management.

Involvement with UNICEF: Colosseum’s factory was one of only 4 in Vietnam to participate in an initial assessment from UNICEF and Save the Children Vietnam. This new program moving into Vietnam has been established to assess the current practices in factories and strengthen and improve principles related to child rights. Colosseum looks forward to continued assessments and involvement with these organizations!

The Shirt is one of Notre Dame’s favorite traditions, and its charitable aspect changes the lives of students. Thanks to the efforts made by Colosseum, The Shirt can also change the lives of global supply chain workers in Vietnam. Stay tuned for the 2017 Shirt unveiling on April 21st!

The Shirt will be sold at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore! Preorder yours now here.

Did you know that the University of Notre Dame can consistently be found on the list of top 20 universities across the nation? Were you aware that the university has 430 student clubs and organizations available, which include a variety of social, cultural, intellectual, recreational, religious, and governance programs so that every student can find a place where they fit in? Has it come to your attention that 48 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance directly from the university? Did you realize that when you buy licensed Notre Dame gear, you’re helping to support all of this and more?

It’s true, when you buy a licensed Notre Dame product, a portion of the proceeds goes back to Notre Dame’s general fund. This fund supports teaching, research, student groups, financial aid, and many other campus initiatives. The benefits of buying licensed products go beyond Notre Dame’s home campus, and reflect back to our licensees across the world. During the process of evaluating new license applications, we ask many questions about licensees’ manufacturing practices. We look for companies that have a strong Code of Conduct and that have relationships with their factories. We also require that every retail licensee be a member of the Fair Labor Association. Through the FLA, many companies are required to complete assessments of their supply chain, and look for areas that need improvement. We work closely with our licensees so that working conditions can continually improve over time. As you can see, each purchase of a licensed product supports the goal of fair working conditions for everyone around the world.

How do you know what is a licensed product and what is not? The simple answer is to look for the “Genuine College Product” tag or sticker attached to the merchandise. If a product has one of these, then you’re good to go. If it doesn’t, it is not a licensed product of Notre Dame. Buying your Notre Dame gear from Hammes Bookstore is a great way to ensure that what you buy is definitely licensed by the University. Always be sure to do your homework and double check that the item you want to buy is one that the University supports.

If you come across an infringing product, don’t panic, there is a way you can help. If you spot infringement,you can report it to us directly at: http://licensing.nd.edu/contact/ or through our licensing agent, Fermata Partners: http://fermatacollege.com/report/. All reports are confidential.We thank everyone who buys Notre Dame licensed products, for you are a part of something great. With your help,we are promoting ethical work environments across the world as well as ensuring that our students here at the University are getting the best education and opportunities possible!

Socks are much more than a highly functional wardrobe essential. They are a canvas where you can showcase your personality, style, what you love, and what you believe in.

Argyle. Grumpy Cat. Coffee. Polka dots. Bacon.

Notre Dame.

FBF Originals, a brand you can find on the tags of many Notre Dame socks, is a successful global manufacturer that helps individuals tell their story. They operate in a 225,000 sq. ft. state of the art facility and distribute their products all over the world. But how they got there is story about overcoming some of life’s greatest challenges.

Sharon Rivenbark was a single mother of 5 children and a school teacher. In 1984, she received devastating news: at the age of 16, her son, Timothy Scott Magnuson, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After surgery, Sharon was informed that his abilities would diminish over time. Sharon was determined to provide Tim with a safe, secure occupation that would give him a sense of ownership and pride. She purchased an antique knitting machine, and opened the doors to the first For Bare Feet (FBF) sock shop in Nashville, Indiana on April 1, 1984.

Tourists visiting Brown County were captivated by the sock machine. One visitor took a particular interest in the socks – Marcie Davis, Indiana University Director of Retail. She requested that Sharon and Tim make FBF socks for the IU Bookstore, and invited Sharon to her first trade show to sell her socks to other colleges and universities. As orders started coming in from colleges nationwide, Sharon and Tim quickly outgrew the little sock shop.

Sadly, Tim passed away in 1987 after a long, hard battle. On the FBF Originals website, the family wrote: “He never lost his sense of humor and ability to laugh while teaching us how to live with dignity, style, and to never give up.”

Sharon and her daughter, Kelly, persevered. They continued to attend apparel, gift and college bookstore trade shows to grow the business, and rented a small warehouse to meet the increasing demand. FBF outgrew the space in 3 months. The company found its permanent home in a larger facility in Brown County and continued to flourish. Kelly successfully procured licenses for the NFL, MLB, NBA NHL, and many colleges/universities including University of Notre Dame. Several family members joined the company in management positions to help drive the business: Sharon’s son-in-law, Dave Baugh; son-in-law, Karl Mills; daughter, Mandy, and her husband, Alan Zellmer; and daughter, Tina, and her husband, Randy Bode.

On the afternoon of September 10, 2011, an air compressor housed on the outside of the
FBF facility caught on fire. Flames quickly engulfed the building, traveling through air compression tubes that fed the knitting machines. Manufacturing and finishing equipment, raw materials, and inventory were completely destroyed.

The following Monday, Sharon, Mandy, Tina and Kelly met the entire staff in the parking lot. Instead of focusing on the devastation, they reassured the staff that their jobs were safe and FBF would pull through. Exactly two months later, FBF Originals moved into its current location – a state of the art facility with 225,000 sq. ft. Every employee was able to continue working for the company after the move.

“Ultimately, FBF Originals was a company started on the foundation of a mother’s love for her son and her family. With that love, it has blossomed into a prosperous global company,” the FBF website states. “Even though FBF has moved and is no longer in its founding location, it has brought all the memories and history with it and will continue to honor the legacy of Timothy Scott Magnuson.”

Planet Dog products are tough, eco-friendly, and saving lives.

My black lab, Emma, has only had 3 dog toys in the last 5 years. (Queue comments about how she is a poor, deprived puppy.) If you have a black lab, you probably understand that they are lovable, loyal, with so much personality – but can also have a tendency to chew and destroy. We gave her several different toys when we brought her home for the first time, and each was missing a head/tail/stuffing/squeaker within a couple minutes. She never really bonded with a toy like the adorable, heart-melting Dachshund in the commercials with its well-loved stuffed dog, Bobo.

Until we brought home her blue Notre Dame Campus Dog® Orbee-Tuff® Ball last winter. This toy is part of Planet Dog‘s new Campus Dog line of products specifically made for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame Campus Dog Products

As you know, fellow pup-parents, no toy is indestructible to those canine teeth. But, this ball is the closest thing I have seen – trust me. We have seen even “durable” toys in pieces on the living room floor. In addition, the Notre Dame Campus Dog products are:

Made in the USA

Buoyant

Eco-friendly

Non-toxic

100% guaranteed

That guarantee is the cherry on top. If any Planet Dog product is chewed, destroyed, doesn’t fit, if the dog doesn’t like it, if you are not satisfied for any reason whatsoever… you can return it.

10% of Net Profits Fund Assistance Dogs

This is the best part about buying a Notre Dame Campus Dog product. Ten percent of the net profits are donated to organizations that provide assistance dogs to people in need. Since 2006, the Planet Dog Foundation has donated more than $1 million in cash grants and product donations to non-profits that train, place and support dogs working to help people in need.

The mission of the Planet Dog Foundation is to promote and celebrate programs in which dogs serve and support their best friends. We fund and support all dogs working to enhance and save human lives.

Ellen Chaleff, a senior at the University of Notre Dame, can speak first-hand to the importance of service dogs. Her Dachsund/rat terrier mix named Fred is her constant companion on campus, and helps her manage her bipolar disorder. In an Observer article last winter, Ellen shared details of her relationship with Fred.

“I love my service dog more than anyone. We are together 24/7, he has saved me so many times. He’s my best friend, and when I’m in a dark place with my disorder, he’s everything I need,” Ellen told us recently.

The cost of obtaining a service dog can be an insurmountable obstacle, and the Planet Dog Foundation is committed to bridging the gap.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize how lucky I was in my situation – there was a trainer willing to help me for way less than most service dog trainers,” Ellen told us. “A trained dog can cost between $5,000 and $20,000, something I can’t imagine being able to afford. Companies who help provide these dogs can be saving lives daily.”

Campus Dog Event at Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore

The people behind Planet Dog are giving you an opportunity to interact with their products and their mission this weekend. Stop by the Bookstore on Friday and Saturday for demonstrations, activities, a visit from Ellen Chaleff and Fred, Leader Dogs for the Blind, and more! All humans and dogs are welcome.

The best part: Planet Dog will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this event to Leader Dogs for the Blind, and Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore will be matching the donation.